HRM Asia Watch List 2018: Dianne Goette

The Asia-Pacific Regional Director for Talent Acquisition with Ogilvy has taken an unconventional route to HR leadership.
By: | September 28, 2018

The HRM Asia Watch List 2018 (#hrmwatchlist), brought to you by Armstrong Craven, showcases the brightest next-generation HR leadership talent from across Southeast Asia.

 

 

An engineer by training, Dianne Goette brings a slightly different perspective to HR: numbers, logic, and systems are all second nature to her.

HRM Asia Watch List

Dianne Goette

Regional Director – Talent Acquisition, Ogilvy

Based in: Jakarta

HR focus areas: Leadership Coaching and Talent Acquisition (with soft spot for HR Systems!)

Favourite aspect of HR: “Building teams and being the “voice of reason” in the business.”

Career-defining moments: “[Realising that] meaningful conversations are what propel organisations to success or failure much more than the combined intelligence and skills of a team.”

Indeed, compensation and benefits, as well as HR systems, was the portfolio that launched her HR career at ON Semiconductor Philippines. She soon expanded her horizons into recruitment, and the transition brought her into new, challenging territory.

“That was different from what I was used to – it shifted from the logic base of systems and numbers, to something more psychological,” she explains.

These days, she finds that human element to be more important than ever.

“I’ve been in places which were able to make big, monetary investments into HR transformation – and it was good, and important. But it still felt empty,” she says.

Instead, her focus as an HR leader is on driving “connectedness” and people building.

“As a talent lead, I have the unique opportunity to guide leaders in thinking through different perspectives, recognising and appreciating emotions in the workplace, and ensuring each conversation results in positive action,” she notes.

“An ex-boss described talking to me as being similar to talking with a priest – examining what is the right and often not easy thing to do, yet being non-judgmental.  And everything remains in confidence.”

Since May last year, Goette has overseen talent acquisition in the Asia-Pacific for advertising and PR giant, Ogilvy.

Her current role involves talent management, providing her with a platform to look into the organisation’s needs at both a regional and functional level.

These current roles are the latest in a respectable slate of HR positions in the Philippines and Hong Kong, including a long tenure with Philip Morris that included regional oversight.

Her advice for anyone else aspiring to climb the HR ladder? “Get the best boss – a boss who will be a good mentor and care about your career is always someone you should work for.”


The HRM Asia Watch List aims to showcase the up and coming generation of HR leadership talent in Southeast Asia. The list will be unveiled daily between September 27 and October 19, 2018. Check the dedicated microsite for the latest updates, follow #hrmwatchlist on social media, or see below. 

Introduction | Welcome address by Tom Mason

Profile #1: Jaspreet Kakar | Profile #2: Dianne Goette | Profile #3: Chen Fong Tuan

Profile #4: Felicia Teh | Profile #5: Monica Oudang | Profile #6: Evangeline Chua

Profile #7: Agapol Na Songkhla | Profile #8: Clayton Tan | Profile #9: Tony Tan

Profile #10: Vanessa Mercado-Maningas | Profile #11: Jahja Soenarta | Profile #12: Minn Yan

Profile #13: Rudy Afandi | Profile #14: Norazlina Idris

Profile #15: Naveen Chhabra | Profile #16: Monir Azzouzi